Human Physiology

The Human Physiology Department studies the science of the mechanical, physical and biomedical functions of humans, serving as the foundation of modern medicine. As a discipline, it connects science, medicine, and health, creating a framework for understanding how the human body adapts to stress, physical activity, and disease.

Human Physiology is home to award-winning teaching and research faculty. Our engaging, inclusive, and evidence-based teaching and year-long, cadaver-based anatomy curriculum allows students to work alongside faculty members on cutting-edge science. Contemporary research in human physiology explores new ways to maintain or improve quality of life, development of new medical therapies and interventions, and charting the unanswered questions about how the human body works.


1,071
Undergraduate Majors
30%
First-generation students
1st
Established Department of Human Physiology in the U.S.
$3M
Annual research grants

What can you do with a Human Physiology degree?

A degree in Human Physiology opens many doors for students, providing them with the foundation for  careers in health care, sports and fitness facilities, nursing and residential career outpatient clinics or private practice, federal and state government health, or hospice. Many human physiology graduates elect to earn advanced degrees in allied health professions, including medicine, and physical and occupational therapy.

Our Degree Programs

Our undergraduate students complete preparatory science courses in chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics that prepare them for the upper-level coursework in human anatomy and physiology. Our graduate program is focused on training the next generation of critical thinking scientists who can benefit society by using careful reasoning and scientific principles to solve problems and innovate new areas of scientific application.

Scholarships and Funding

The Human Physiology department gives out $18,000 annually in awards and scholarships to help fund student education. Explore our available scholarships and funding, including graduate teaching opportunities, below.

Undergraduate Scholarships
Graduate Funding

Academic Support

Our Peer Advisors are majors in Human Physiology who help you navigate course options and direction within the department. We also offer a drop-in study room. Our faculty work closely with the UO Teaching Engagement Program to make our classes engaging, inclusive, and effective.

Undergraduate Advising
Graduate Student Support

people running in the heat

Outside Magazine Reporter Gets the Hot Treatment for Runners

The 'Sweat Science' columnist works with Human Physiology prof Chris Minson and tries the heat adaption protocol used by elite Oregon runners. He survives (barely) to tell the tale.

Steve Laurie at NASA, standing next to space capsule

How Human Physiology Launches Your Career

“The Human Physiology department fostered a rigorous academic training environment, but also placed a strong emphasis on how to be a critical thinker in all aspects of work and life. I now work in the aerospace industry for a federal government contractor, and the training I received in communication, the breadth of exposure to various topic areas, and exposure to non-academic career paths all prepared me for my professional life after leaving Oregon.”

—Steve Laurie, Human Physiology doctoral alumnus ‘12

In The Homestretch: A Heptathlete’s Journey to Medical School

From competing in seven events as as track heptathlete, to conducting research in the lab, Colleen Uzoekwe has her sights set high. 

Faculty Research

Learn from Experts in the Field

Our faculty are involved in cutting-edge biomedical research that covers the spectrum from bench-top basic science to bedside clinical research and application, to sport and human performance. Our areas of excellence include:

  • The developmental origins of disease related to the impact of maternal diet and health status on the well-being of offspring.
  • Human adaptation to environmental extremes such as high altitude.
  • Use of environmental stressors such as heat stress to induce therapeutic benefits in patient populations.
  • Nutritional interventions to preserve muscle function in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery.
  • Prediction and prevention of overuse injuries arising from participation in sports.
  • Neuromotor strategies for movement and assessment of movement disorders.
  • The effect of age-associated changes in blood vessels on risk of atherosclerosis.
Hands-On Learning

Get Real World Experience

Experiential learning opportunities allow students to apply knowledge learned in human physiology courses and gain critical insights into various career options. All of our faculty work closely with undergraduate students, allowing for rich opportunities for experiential learning research experience. We also offer practicum opportunities in healthcare settings. The Human Cadaver Dissection Lab offers the unparalleled opportunity for experiential learning exploration of the human form. Advanced undergraduates may also earn the opportunity to participate in the annual dissection course, when donated bodies are prepared for instructional use.

Human Physiology News and Events

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY, NEUROSCIENCE - Using functional MRI brain imaging, or fMRI, University of Oregon researchers have unraveled some of the neural circuitry behind basic human actions. Their insights, described in a paper published in the journal eNeuro, can be used to improve the design of brain-computer interface technologies, including brain-controlled prosthetic arms that aim to restore movement in people who have lost it.
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY, NEUROSCIENCE - Undergrad student Matthias De Kok shares his experience as a research assistant intern with Sleep & Health Applied Research Program Lab in Portland.
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - On this episode we’re joined by Mike Hahn, professor of human physiology and director of the Bowerman Sports Science Center. The This is Oregon Podcast team discusses his team’s research on distance running, fatigue, and tips to get the most out of your run while avoiding injury. Link goes to Spotify.

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Designing Your Future for PhDs: A Primer
Mar27
Designing Your Future for PhDs: A Primer Mar 27
Department of History Coffee Hour
Apr1
Department of History Coffee Hour Apr 1 McKenzie Hall
What is Research? (2025)
Apr3
What is Research? (2025) Apr 3 University of Oregon Portland
What is Research? (2025)
Apr4
What is Research? (2025) Apr 4 University of Oregon Portland
What is Research? (2025)
Apr5
What is Research? (2025) Apr 5 University of Oregon Portland
Mastering the Art of a Humanities & Social Science Poster
Apr7
Mastering the Art of a Humanities & Social Science Poster Apr 7
Department of History Coffee Hour
Apr8
Department of History Coffee Hour Apr 8 McKenzie Hall
Dept. of History Pierson Lecture: "Trans Berlin: The World's First Trans Politics, Berlin's Queer Golden Age, and the Rise of Fascism, 1918-1933"
Apr8
Dept. of History Pierson Lecture: "Trans Berlin: The World's First Trans Politics, Berlin's Queer Golden Age, and the Rise of Fascism, 1918-1933" Apr 8 Gerlinger Hall
Creative Writing Program Presents: Screening of RULE BREAKERS and Q&A
Apr8
Creative Writing Program Presents: Screening of RULE BREAKERS and Q&A Apr 8 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
Resume Extravaganza! (Drop-In Resume Reviews with Career Coaches & Peer Coaches)
Apr9
Resume Extravaganza! (Drop-In Resume Reviews with Career Coaches & Peer Coaches) Apr 9 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall

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